Feeding
1,500 people was no
problem for the community of
Taumarunui (with some help from
celebrity chef Richard Till), despite
the event coinciding with the worst
storm of the year.
The first-ever Taumarunui Dinner @
the Domain went ahead as planned on
Saturday 3 March, as the town battened
down its hatches in the face of a severe
weather warning. A totally free event,
where the people of Taumarunui were
invited along to make and enjoy food
together, Dinner @ the Domain was a true
“celebration of food and community”.
And what a day it was! Food could be
dropped off from midday on Friday,
with preparation well underway by early
Saturday morning. Children and families
could enjoy games and other activities from
1pm, before the shared meal at 5:30pm.
Although the weather meant many of the
planned outdoor activities couldn’t go
ahead, people still came early to talk, be
entertained and help out where needed.
Richard says, “That for me was the highlight
of the day, how incredibly keen everyone
was to get involved and lend a hand. It was
a great honour for me to be able to work
alongside so many community volunteers,
putting in a long day side-by-side in the
kitchen, making friends over the stove. That
and the incredible hospitality showed to me
by the people of Taumarunui.”
Event coordinator Briar van Buel from
Heartland Services agrees that the people
were what made the day. “In a way the
weather made it even more of a success,”
Briar says. “People were sitting down to
share a fabulous meal in close quarters
with strangers, and as a result a lot of new
friends and connections were made. It was
the same warm, homely atmosphere you
get sharing food in your own kitchen.”
The sumptuous feast, prepared by many
included four spit-roast pork, 400+ hangi,
lasagne, salads, vegetable fritters, blueberry
pies, cakes, individual trifles and more.
It was a
great honour for me
to be able to work
alongside so many
community volunteers
Donation
RICHARD TILL
Taumarunui
Dinner
@
the Domain
D o n a t i o n S t o r i e s
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